I failed to mention this in its inaugural week last Thursday, so I’m making up for it now!

Terrific Thursdays take over Decatur commercial parcels every Thursday until Christmas.  Free food, comped alcohol and discounts galore.  Really, if you’re still going to the mall, you might have an unhealthy addiction to recirculated air.

Full list of restaurant and retail discounts HERE.

Disclosure: Terrific Thursdays is a DM sponsor

Wondering why you’re feeling a little extra weight on your shoulders this morning?

It’s because Halloween is over and the “holiday” season has just begun!  Stores are stocking red and green and putting all their shiniest merchandise on the shelves.  That goes for Decatur too.

Over on the Minute, Lyn Menne seems resigned to the noise she will hear from residents as the city’s street decorations start to appear in very early November.

OK, go ahead and vent. Get it out of your system and then just relax and enjoy the beautiful site of holiday decorations in downtown Decatur. Yes, the holiday decorations are going up and yes it’s a bit earlier than we had scheduled. As we’ve explained before, we are a relatively small account for holiday decorating installers so we are given a window of opportunity and then see where we fall in their schedule.

And while some may complain as the “holiday season” dilutes itself by climbing further up the calendar towards the 4th of July each year, few will complain that with November starts the great Decatur tradition of “Terrific Thursdays” (click the the lovely banner at the top of the page for more details).  Stores are open late and offering big ol’ discounts starting tonight!  So get out there are do what the banner says!  “Shop Local. Shop Decatur.”

Full Disclosure: The banner above IS a paid advertisement.  However even if it wasn’t, I’d still be shouting the same thing, as is evidenced by countless posts in previous years!

Just a reminder:  Tonight is your last chance to take advantage of all the great Terrific Thursday deals around Decatur in 2008.

In addition to all the excellent discounts and events we’ve enjoyed every Thursday since November, Catherine over at The Decatur Minute lists the extra events going on this evening that make this the bestest Terrific Thursday of the entire season.

I hope Santa has a t-shirt for the DBA’s marshmallow roast at 7p on the Square.  Its darn right balmy outside!

Just as Target quickly begins switching out its ghosts and goblins with snowmen and reindeer even before Oct. 31st, downtown Decatur shops have already left ghoulish thoughts of All-Hallows Eve behind and are now gearing up for the really profitable holidays.

Tonight marks the beginning of Decatur’s annual holiday Thursday evening shop-a-thon…also known as Terrific Thursdays!  From now until Christmas, Decatur shops will stay open late on Thursday nights (Thanksgiving being the exception) with special events, discounts and even complementary alcohol (at select locations).

The city has posted a full list of discounts and events HERE.  Shop local this holiday season!

Make sure to check out this page for all the discounts and free food and drink available on Thursdays in November and December as shops and restaurants participate in “Decatur Terrific Thursdays”.